On Friday September 22nd, we held a counter-protest in Gwanghwamun, Seoul against the Korean Dog Meat Traders Association who were demonstrating to have dog meat and dog farming legalized.
On Friday September 15th, we determined to decommission the dog farm, decided to rescue every dog in it, and got a written statement from the owner never to operate the farm again. CARE activists and volunteers, embarked on the rescue.
On the 11th of August, we held a “STOP! THE KILLING” performance event in Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall. It was the last of our Bok Nal (the three hottest days of summer) campaign events, the 11th of August being the last of the hottest summer days (called “mal bok” in Korean) in 2017.
On 17th August, a video was taken in the Gupo district of Busan. In the video, a dog was being brutally dragged along public streets by a pipe to which it was tightly bound from Gupo station to Gupo Market—a distance of about 1km. The dog was trying to untie the rope, and during his struggles, his skin was lacerated and claws were damaged.
In December 2016, the Moran Market Vendors’ Association agreed to voluntarily stop displaying and slaughtering live dogs, and remove the butchering facilities. As the result of our ongoing investigation during May and June of 2017, it was revealed that the agreement has not been upheld.
On 12th July 2017, CARE filed a bill of indictment at the Seoul Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, accusing 15 people who slaughtered and sold dog meat for infractions under Article 8 Section 1 Clauses 1, 2 and 4 of the Animal Protection Act.
The dog meat association is currently winning the war on dog meat as demand surges around Boknal (the hottest days of summer). But, rumor has it that dog meat is in decline; a rumor now supported by statistics.
The Stop It 2017 festival held on July 9th at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall was a roaring success, despite the occasional downpour.
With presidential elections on the 9th of May, we thought we’d take a brief look at the five main candidates’ policy pledges regarding animal welfare during their campaigns, and particularly their stance on dog meat.
CARE continues to investigate traditional markets in and around Seoul since Moran market’s announcement that the public slaughtering of dogs at the market will cease. However, this is still happening, including at Moran market; dogs are being taken from display cages and slaughtered in front of customers and other dogs.
Taiwan’s parliament has approved a bill banning the slaughter of cats and dogs for human consumption, building on the 2001 legislation banning the sale of meat and fur of cats and dogs for “economic purposes.”
Headlines in the press are misrepresenting the closure of Moran dog meat market in Seongnam City, South Korea. These errors need to be corrected.